Anthracene, reagent, 99.0+%

Anthracene is a solid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon of formula C14H10, consisting of three fused benzene rings. It is a component of coal tar. Anthracene is used in the production of the red dye alizarin and other dyes.

Anthracene is colorless but exhibits a blue (400-500 nm peak) fluorescence under ultraviolet light.

Anthracene is converted mainly to anthroquinone, a precursor to dyes. Anthracene is an organic semiconductor. It is used as a scintillator for detectors of high energy photons, electons and alpha particles. Plastics, such as polyvinyltoluene, can be doped with anthracene to produce a plastic scintillator that is approximately water-equivalent for use in radiation therapy dosimetry.

Anthracene's emission spectrum peaks at between 400 nm and 440 nm.

It is also used in wood preservatives, insecticides, and coating materials. 

Anthracene is one of the three components (the other two being potassium perchlorate and sulfur) which are used to produce the black smoke released during a Papal Conclave.